Real life: My beautiful daughter was killed in the London Bridge terrorist attacks

A smile tugged at my lips as my daughter, Sara, 21, dragged me on to the dancefloor.

"You're old," she teased. "You've got to party!"

I held Sara's hand as our hips swayed to the music.

It was my 50th birthday and Sara was determined to show me a good time.

When she heard I wasn't planning a party she threw herself into organising balloons, a cake and sombreros for a Mexican-themed shindig with family and friends.

I had a blast but my merriment was tinged with sadness.

Sara was about to head to London to work as an au pair for four months.

I wanted her to experience the world but I'd miss her terribly.

Sara and I had always shared a special bond.

She was a younger, better version of me.

We shared a positive attitude and an energetic zest for life - and shopping.

The same size and shape, we were always stealing each others clothes.

I didn't know how I'd get by without my mini-me.

To make the separation easier, my husband, Mark, and I had planned to meet with Sara in Paris, under the Eiffel Tower, three and a half months later.

"See you in Paris," Sara beamed as she walked towards the airport gate a week after my party.

Her smile had never been so wide.

I squeezed her tightly one last time then waved until she was out of sight.

She called and texted every day after that, telling us how much she loved London and the two boys she looked after.

"But we'll meet in Paris. Only 26 days to go."As Sara got ready to hang up, I smiled.

"I love you," I said.

Me and my mini-me Sara.

The next morning I was heading back from a work event in Canberra when my best friend, Jody, called.

"Have you heard what's happened in London?" she blurted anxiously.

Since Sara had been living in the UK, two terror attacks had killed dozens of people, with one man ploughing a vehicle into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and another bombing concertgoers in Manchester.

But I hadn't heard anything new.

"Terrorists drove their van into people on London Bridge," she explained, adding that police had shot dead three attackers.

My heart jolted but I remained calm.

Sara had always been mature, looking after her friends on nights out. She had common sense and street smarts, so I knew that even if she'd been caught up in it, she'd somehow find safety.

Besides, it was night time over there, so she'd likely be working or asleep.